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French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.

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